EDMONTON - It was a victorious start to the second half of the volleyball season for the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. The No.1 and undefeated Golden Bears started 2015 with a difficult opponent in the No.5 Wesmen but were able to prevail in three tightly contested sets (27-25, 26-24, 25-23).

It was an attack-by-committee offence for the Bears as fourth-year outside hitter Kevin Proudfoot led the Bears with 11 kills, while third-year left side Ryan Nickifor also cracked double digits with 10, Ryley Barnes (nine), Taylor Arnett (seven), and Arran Chambers (six) spinning the remaining kills for Alberta. Brett Walsh had 34 assists to put his CIS-leading total at 632 and also had five digs to lead the Bears.

The Wesmen were missing their top hitter as third-year outside Casey Schouten was not in the lineup and missing the No.3 player in kills (218) was a major blow to the Winnipeg attack. The Wesmen were led all night by fifth-year outside Thomas Douglas-Powell who had 12 kills. Joshua McKay had a team-high 27 assists and Logan Brennan added 10 digs.

The first set was dominated early by the Bears, who jumped out to a 12-4 lead behind strong net play from both Proudfoot and Chambers. Winnipeg quickly fought back with a 7-1 run, making it 13-11 Alberta before Winnipeg took the lead 16-15. The two teams battled back and forth from there and Winnipeg had a chance to win the set up 24-23,  but coming out of an Alberta timeout, Proudfoot and Chambers got a big block to tie up the set. Winnipeg was up 25-24 again after the serve from Alberta went out but the Bears once again battled back with a kill from Proudfoot, then Chambers, to jump up 26-25. Winnipeg thought they had tied it again but Joshua McKay was called on the net and Alberta took the first set in a 27-25 thriller.

Winnipeg had a stronger second set effort, as they led 11-7 and 15-11 but the Bears roared back to take an 18-17 lead and continued that lead until 24-23. Winnipeg battled back once again after a wild rally that featured a great save at the net from Walsh, but Winnipeg finished the rally with a put-back from Matthew Dueck to tie it at 24. Proudfoot muscled it off the Wesmen block for a 25-24 lead before Winnipeg put the ball out of play, Thomas Douglas-Powell looking for a touch, but after a meeting between officials, the Bears were awarded the point and won the set 26-24.

The third set was another favourable start for Winnipeg, jumping out early, but two big hits by Ryan Nickifor and Taylor Arnett allowed the Bears to knot it up at 13. The two teams continued to remain close until the Bears vaulted to a 24-21 lead on a serve into the net by Douglas-Powell. The Wesmen would not go away, though, as they closed things to 24-23 off a big hit from the Brisbane, Australia native but Arnett put the match away for Alberta with a big hit from his middle position to give the set to the Bears and complete the sweep.

These two teams will go at it again Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. MT at the SCSC.